Adriana expected it.
The moment he said 'weneed to talk' her body went cold with the strange, quiet certainty of someone already bracing for impact.
It felt like sitting at the doctor's office, waiting for test results you're certain won't bring good news.
Craig exhaled, running a hand through his hair the way he always did when he was about to say something he didn't want to say.
"Adriana," he said softly, eyes steady on hers. "You've given me more kindness, more love than I ever managed to give back. I need you to know I felt it…every time you stayed, every time you forgave, every time you chose to be patient when you didn't have to be. I'm more thankful for that than you'll ever know."
His words were sweet, the kind of words that should have made her feel warm and cherished. Yet she couldn't ignore the 'but' hiding behind them.
Craig swallowed hard. "But I can't keep lying to you. Or to myself."
There it was.
She felt it hit her like a punch straight to the chest.
